Thursday, April 8, 2010

Gene Colan Injured; Art Missing

Gene Colan’s children have asked me to reach out to the comics community on behalf of their father.

Gene was injured last week and is now being cared for by his son. In addition, it appears that some of Gene’s artwork has disappeared, including pages from Nathanial Dusk and a Star Wars-related piece. The police are involved in the matter.

If Gene Colan art is currently circulating in the marketplace, it is possible that these pieces were stolen. Please email me if you see artwork that is the least bit questionable.

I spoke with Gene early this evening and he is in good spirits, as always. Unfortunately, he is also in pain and unable to use his right arm and hand at this time due to a broken shoulder. Well-wishers should feel free to use the comments section of this blog; I will make certain that Gene sees your notes.

I will continue to update the community with regards to Gene's progress.

Gene Colan was one of my professors in SVA once. He is the most warmest, sweetest soul you'd ever want to meet. Warm wishes to Gene and his family and wishing him a speedy recovery and the best from here on in.

He was mugged?? Jesus, what a cowardly bastard. When I was on the NYPD we had 'special' treatment for those who preyed on the elderly (and you sure wouldn't have seen it on "COPS"). I hope my brothers carry on the tradition if and when they catch this guy. Get well, Gene. You're one of the reasons I chose comics as my profession.

I'm very sorry to hear this. Here's hoping hisrecovery is speedy and uncomplicated. I can honestly say it was Gene Colan's work was one of the siren's calls that attracted me to comics at a young age and continues to be an inspiration to me today.

Dear Gene,Hope you have a speedy recovery. I hope you artwork turns up soon. And I hope the theives are properly punished. Throw the book at them, so to speak. Hopefully a Gene Colan Omnibus! Take care, sir!Dave Chapple

I read of your bad shoulder injury, and I am wishing you a speedy recovery! It sounds really painful.You have the constitution of an Iron Man, and good genes. : - )

You're the best, and we all love ya like a brother or dad!

Also, I do hope that artwork of yours that was stolen from your house (!) while you were injured and away, is returned. That's truly despicable. Who would do such a thing!I've been a member of your yahoo group for years, in two stints, and I've never been happier!

Get well, big guy! Iron Man, Captain America, Daredevil,Doctor Strange, Dracula, and even Howard The Duck need your dire help to take on the nefarious and evil Dr. Doom, Stiltman, Red Skull, the Crimson Dynamo and The Titanium Man!

Mr. Colan was one of several artists in my youth (we're talking back in the '60s now folks) who made me want to be a comic book artist- it's been 26 years now since i got the chance to do just that- and after all these years of being a pro i still get a childlike glee at meeting some of my heroes-and even becoming friends with some.

The day i met Mr. Colan was a highlight of my career-i even showed him a TOMB OF DRACULA piece i did in his style and he didn't slap me silly and tell me to get a real job-lol

The Drac sketch i got from him that day is one of my favorites-and the memory of that short time with him and his lovely lady (and the pic of me with Gene) will be with me forever.

Get better,Gene-the world would be a sadder place without gents like you around...;o)

Our good thoughts & very best wishes are with you. So sorry that all this hit you at the same time but you have so much love a support coming at you that I just know you will heal and that your artwork will be recovered... keep up good thoughts & know that people all over that you don't even know exist... care about you.

Sending white light,Mary Riley

hope whoever injured you and stole your artwork is caught. He should be forced to run a gauntlet of your fans and admirers.

I was dismayed and very concerned when I read of your plight, but subsequently happy to hear of your road to recovery. Since discovering your eloquent work at Marvel way back in the 60's I've always been a big big fan, and flattered to get an email response from you a few years back regarding a fanboy comment to your website.

Gene you are one in a million - God bless you and speedy recovery.

And many thanks to Cliff and all for rallying around to raise support for such a grand master of the industry.

Heartfelt regards to a man that has brought pleasure, entertainment and inspiration to many.

Meth Addict

Attempting to post comments to this blog? Note that I don't accept anonymous comments. No guts, no glory.

Eye of the Beholder

Meth is a dangerous writer. He doesn’t seem to care if you like him.- Neal Adams

Meth’s writing is fresh and absorbing—clever and replete with surprises.- Stan Lee

Anyone who can give Barry Windsor-Smith a pissy fit is okay in my book.- Joe Staton

The only thing about Cliff’s writing that makes me crazy is the demented titles he puts on them. For a guy who writes as well as he does, and who thinks as deeply as he does, I can’t figure it out! - Harlan Ellison

Clifford Meth is one of dark fiction's best-kept secrets.- Barnes and Noble

Meth is one of the more intriguing writers of short stories to arrive in recent years. A damned fine writer. He does not write the easy stories.- Tony Isabella / The Comic Buyer’s Guide

Meth’s imagination, integrity and insight are touched by a dark, often perverse humor. It’s always exciting to discover new writers on their way up—and Meth’s course is worth charting. - Jim Steranko

I don’t know how much money the Cockrums got, but having a friend like Clifford Meth is worth more than a million dollars. - John Romita

Cliff’s writing has attitude. While his stories are frequently angry or outrageous, they’re all honest insights into the human psyche. - Dave Cockrum (co-creator of The X-Men)

Meth is a unique and exciting voice--funny, twisted, visionary. His insights into character and culture are often startling and his stories, always entertaining. I am a huge fan. - Richard Saperstein, Pres. The Weinstein Company

Clifford Meth sharpens the mundane details of everyday life to a razor's edge. I know of no other experience so simultaneously depressing...and uplifting. - Steve Brown, Chairman IDT Entertainment

You write character dialogue like O'Hara & string words together so effortlessly, kiddo. Kudos to you! Love good writing--the stuff so rare in comics & animation, my two vexing venues...I'm ossified, I'm sure, by actually reading top story work. - Alex Toth

Although they're called dark fiction, there's a "real" quality to Clifford Meth's stories that lifts them up and out of his books. And each successive story remains unique enough to make me start another, wondering what he'll come up with next. - Steve Forbert

Clifford Meth knows things. Dark, dank, nasty things... He doesn't scrape away the barnacles covering the hull of human interaction so much as he lifts up the barnacles, describes what's under them, and then puts the barnacles back and walks away with his hands in his pockets, whistling in the dark. - Peter David

Clifford Meth has done more to make the comic book industry better for its creators than has the collective career of many good people working within it. Those who speak much and do little struggle to fathom how some inspire granduer with few words. To them, Clifford Meth is of the unfathomable. - Michael Netzer

[Meth's] work is about the dark side of life, as if he were sculpting beautifully realistic statues while working exclusively in blood and excrement. And then setting them on fire...I'm a huge fan. I read him mouth open and giggling, stunned, amused and aroused. - Bill Messner-Loebs

I read Clifford Meth because the guy has a unique niche. He doesn't write fiction--he writes punk fiction! - Andy Shernoff (The Dictators)

Meth's writing is dark, relentless and always in your face. It doesn’t make for easy reading, but it is highly emotional and makes you pay attention, which is the best thing a writer can do... He writes from a place others won’t walk. - Marv Wolfman (creator of Blade)

Every Clifford Meth story is a tale of two balls. - Peppi Marchello (The Good Rats)

If you have missed the true, revealing richness of [Meth's] implications, then consider this an urgent reminder--a rap on the knuckles--to read it again. - Robert Bloch (author of Psycho)

Cliff writes very well about very intimate subjects.- Steve Gerber (creator of Howard the Duck)

It's easy to be your friend when there ain't no shit coming down. It's when the nails are being driven into your wrists that you find out whether somebody is a real friend and a stand-up person. And that's Cliff. - Harlan Ellison

Cliff, on behalf of the creative community, let me be the zillionth to thank you for the great care and Ellisonian-level protectiveness you've shown to the giants. - Mark Waid

Saying good things about Clifford Meth is like giving endorsements to Zorro. - Barney Dannelke

Comics for Sale

In addition to representing Dave Cockrum's personal collection for his Estate, I am selling my Silver Age collection. Click here for details.